Puzzle.



PATENTED MAY 17, 1904 A. L. SNEDEKER.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 23, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

3 4- .5 (Zeke 13y pocl lolu a @flllorncys TM: NORRIS PETERs on. Pnoruumu. WASHINGYON u c UNITED STATES Patented May 17, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM L. SNEDEKER, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO LEWIS GARRIOOK SINCLAIR AND BIR" CHENEY, OF STEU- BENVILLE, OHIO.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,032, dated May 17, 1904.

Application filed September 23, 1903. Serial No. 1%,348. (No model.)

To all whom it ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM L. Snnnnunn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steubenville, in the county of J eiferson and State 5 of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Puzzle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of buildings known as labyrinths, and has for its objectto provide an inexpensive and durable IO structure of this character particularly designed for erection and use in parks and other public places as an amusement device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a labyrinth having a series of circuitous T 5 passages and irregular paths gated or connected one with the other to form a complicated maze, several of the passages terminating blindly, with no apparent exit after leading in or out, so as to deceive or baflie the person attempting to leave the labyrintlnand with one of said passages continuous and leading from the entrance to a prize-chamber or compartment. I

A still further object is to provide the main passage leading to the prize chamber or compartment with a series of swinging doors, and

to furnish each person entering the labyrinth with a map .or chart showing the disposition of the various passages and the prize-chamher, said maps being numbered, so that the person finding his way to said chamber will draw a prize corresponding to the number of his map or chart.

The invention consists in the construction longitudinal sectional View of the same, and

and novel combination and arrangement of chamber 6.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. dis asec tional detail View of the swinging doors.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates the labyrinth, which may be of any desired shape or contour, being preferably rectangular, as shown, and formed of metal, wood, or other suitable material, wire fencing being the preferred material employed in the construction of the device herein shown and described. The labyrinth consists of an outer or marginal wall 2, provided at one end with a main entrance 2 and having the space inclosed within the marginal wall provided with a plurality of partitions 3, defining longitudinally-disposed paths or passages i and t, one of which communicates with a series of spirally-arranged passages 53, the inner ends of which terminate in a centrally-disposed covered chamber 6. All of the spirally-disposed passages 5 lead blindly from the central chamber 6, with the exception of the passage 7 said passage leading from the chamber 6, in'the direction indicated by the arrow, to the longitudinal passages 4 and thence to aprizc chamber or compartment 8, preferably located at a point ad acent themam entrance. A spring-door 9 normally closes the entrance to the passage 7, and a springdoor 11, adapted to open in but one direction,

affords a source of communication between one of'the longitudinal passages 4 and the terminal portion of passage 7 so as to permit access to the prize-compartment without the necessity of passing through the central One or more diagonally-disposed partitions or walls 12, defining passages 13, are secured in any suitable manner to the partitions 3, and said walls or partitions, as well as the partlt ons 3, are provided at suitable intervals wlth gates 14:, arranged in alinement therewith and preferably forming a continuation of said partitions.

A transversely-disposed partition 15, form- 1ng an entrance-passage 16, and an exit 17, 1s

arranged on one side of the main entrance 2,

and a similar partition 18 arranged on the opposite side of said entrance, an outwardlyswinging door 19 being pivotally mounted in the partition 18, as shown. A pair of springactuated swinging-doors 20, connected by a sprocket-chain 21, are mounted in one of the longitudinal passages 4' at a point adjacent the door 19, the blades of each door being arranged at right angles to each other and adapted to make a quarter-revolution and return to their normal position when operated from either side. A compartment 22 is arranged adjacent the prize-compartment 8, the doors 23 of which are provided with combination looks or catches, (not shown,) it being necessary to open said doors and pass through the chamber 22 before access can be obtained to the prize-compartment. Several of the paths or passages are provided with turnstiles 24, which turn freely in one direction, but are locked against return movement, so as to prevent a person from returning after he has once entered said passages. Suitable boxes or stands 25 are arranged near the main entrance 2 and on either side thereof, adapted to be used as ticket-offices.

From the foregoing description the construction of the device will be readily understood, and the operation thereof is as follows: Each person buying a ticket is furnished with a chart or map showing the general arrangement of the various passages, said maps being numbered and entitling the purchaser thereof to a correspondingly-numbered prize when he reaches the prize-chamber. A person entering the labyrinth follows the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l of the drawings, passing through the longitudinal passage l and circuitous passages 5 to the central chamber 6, thence through the door 9 and passage 7 to the longitudinal passage 4: and through the doors 20 by acircuitous passage to the chamber 22. After entering the chamber 22 the person enters the compartment 8, receives his prize, and passes through the turnstile and out through the main entrance. The prize chamber or compartment may be reached without passing'through the central chamber 6 by taking the longitudinal passage indicated by the feathered arrow in Fig. l and passing through the door 11 and passage 4 in the manner before described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A labyrinth comprising a centrally-disposed covered chamber and a plurality of spirally-disposed walls or partitions defining passages, said passages having their inner ends communicating with one side of the chamber and their outer ends terminating at different points.

2. A labyrinth comprising a centrally-disposed covered chamber and a plurality of spirally-disposed walls or partitions defining passages communicating therewith, some of said partitions being arranged within the chamber.

3. A labyrinth comprising a centrally-disposed covered chamber, a plurality of spirallydisposed walls or partitions defining passages communicating with said chamber, and a door arranged within the chamber and adapted to normally close one of said passages.

4. A labyrinth comprising a centrally-disposed covered chamber and a plurality of spirally-disposed walls or partitions defining passages communicating therewith, the inner ends of said passages being arranged in a straight line at one side of the chamber, thereby to distinguish their order and relation.

5. A labyrinth comprising a plurality of spirally-disposed walls or partitions defining passages, the inner end of each of which terminates in a common chamber, a compartment forming a terminus or goal, a path or passage forming a sourceof communication between the central chamber and the compartment or goal and a door adapted to normally close said passage.

6. A labyrinth comprising a compartment forming a terminus or goal, a chamber having a plurality of spirally-disposed passages communicating therewith, one of which communicates with said compartment, and a pair of oppositely-disposed swinging doors each provided with angularly-disposed blades pivotally mounted in said passage and adapted to normally closethe same.

7. A labyrinth comprising a compartment forming a terminus or goal, a chamber having a plurality of spirally-disposed passages communicating therewith, one of which communicates with said compartment, a door arranged within the chamber and normally closing said passage, and a turnstile disposed at the entrance to the compartment or goal.

8. A labyrinth comprising a compartment forming a terminus or goal, a chamber having a plurality of spirally-disposed passages communicating therewith, one of which communicates with said compartment, and a pair of oppositely disposed spring actuated doors pivotally mounted in said passage and adapted to operate simultaneously to open or close the same.

9. A labyrinth comprising a compartment or goal, a second compartment provided with a plurality of doors communicating therewith,

a series of partitions defining a plurality of independent paths or passages, one of which commuuicates with the second compartment, and a pair of spring-actuated doors pivotally mounted in said passage and adapted to operate simultaneously to open or close the passage.

10. A labyrinth comprising a compartment or goal, a plurality of partitions defining a series of independent paths or passages some of which are false or blind and one at least leads my oWn I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence 0i two Witnesses.

ABRAHAM L. SNEDEKER.

Witnesses Lnwrs Gr. SINCLAIR, BERT CHENEY. 

